WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1604/97 by Roberto MEZZAROMA to the Council. S. Raffaele Hospital in Malta and EU-Malta bilateral relations
Date: 1997-05-05
Institutions: European Parliament, MEZZAROMA
Subjects: EIB loan, EU aid, Italy, Malta, bilateral relations, financial protocol, health policy, medical institution

C 82/12

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

17. 3. 98

(98/C 82/15)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1604/97

by Roberto Mezzaroma (UPE) to the Council

(5 May 1997)

Subject: S. Raffaele Hospital in Malta and EU-Malta bilateral relations

At the request of the Maltese Government, the Monte Tabor Italian-Maltese Foundation has been set up as the
body responsible for the planning and construction of the S. Raffaele Hospital in Malta, which is modelled on the
S. Raffaele scientific institute in Milan.

The  project  is  part  of  the  Maltese  Government(cid:146)s  health  programme  and  forms  part  of  a  wider  scientific  and
medical  project  designed  to  provide  the  Mediterranean  region  with  hospital  facilities  to  treat  various  serious
illnesses, including diabetes mellitus. A protocol for the completion of the project, has been drawn up between
the Maltese authorities and the S. Raffaele authorities.

Does  the  Council  consider  that  the  sudden  breaking  off  of  relations  ordered  by  the  Maltese  Government  in
connection with this project, which had been granted a loan of 12 million Maltese lire by the social development
fund and the Italian-Maltese protocol of cooperation, could in any way adversely affect relations between Malta
and an EU Member State, Italy, and, by the same token between Malta and the EU?

Answer

(17 October 1997)

The project which the Honourable Member refers to in his question falls within the area of the bilateral relations
between Italy and Malta.

As far as the future relations of Malta with the EU are concerned, the Council, bearing in mind the interest of both
parties to maintain close relations, has invited the Commission to make proposals. After the completion of the
exploratory talks with Malta, the Commission intends to present its proposals to the Council during the second
half of 1997

Malta has been a beneficiary of EC grants and EIB loans, namely in the form of three financial protocols totalling
approximately 93.5 MECU. The Fourth Financial protocol of 45 MECU entered into force on 1 January 1996.
The main objective of this protocol was to help Malta with its preparation for its future accession to the European
Union.  However,  due  to  Malta(cid:146)s  decision  to  freeze  its  candidature,  the  indicative  programme  drafted  by  the
Commission  to  implement  this  Protocol  will  undoubtedly  have  to  be  revised  in  order  to  meet  the  mutual
obejectives of the future relationship.

(98/C 82/16)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1607/97

by Jose· Valverde Lo·pez (PPE) to the Commission

(7 May 1997)

Subject: Review of technical requirements laid down by the Commission for the production of gelatine

By a decision of 11 June 1996 the Commission laid down technical requirements for the production of gelatine.

According to the Multidisciplinary Scientific Committee, the technical requirements in question do not provide
absolute  guarantees  that  the  BSE  agent  has  been  rendered  inactive.  The  committee  says  that  only  if  primary
matter from cattle were uninfected could it be guaranteed that gelatine would be entirely free of risk.

What urgent decisions does the Commission plan to take to ban the marketing of any gelatine which cannot be
guaranteed totally safe for consumers?